Therefore, this morning as I returned from a very slow walk with Ms. Cleo, the elder dog, I was thinking that I surely must have photographed every flowering plant in the neighborhood, and some more than once. That there was simply nothing new to be seen here. And then, just a couple of doors from my home, this dahlia came into my view. I laughed. There is an Auntie Mame boldness to it that I needed very much to experience. I was in danger of starving at the banquet table.
Nature will always have the next to the last word. Despite our advances in medicine, health care and just about every other field, these lives of ours are temporal, and that is true for all seven plus billion of us. These bodies simply will not last forever even if we do replace some failing parts. Therefore, we would be wise to live fully into the season we are in. The flowers I photographed this morning will soon be gone. The weather will have its way with us.
Yet, every time I think I have seen in all there is to see in this small territory in which I reside, something amazing shows up. I think I know why. It is because the last word always belongs to God. We can find great comfort and strength in this knowledge, but there is, of course, is a warning as well. We can domesticate dogs, cats, and even a wild lily. But not God. God is not predictable and cannot be tamed. For that, I am deeply grateful as I take my place at the table.
Let us be wise today and give thanks for what is in front of us. Tomorrow is not ours, and may never be. Best accept the gift of today and live.
Ten thousand flowers in spring,
the moon in autumn,
a cool breeze in summer,
snow in winter.
If your mind isn't clouded by
unnecessary things,
this is the best season of your life.
Wu-Men
from Life Prayers, Elizabeth Roberts and Elias Amidon
Lately, I have been thinking a lot about seasons. While we will surely hot days in September and October, we are definitely in late summer. The darkness lingers a little longer each morning, but the mid-day light can be quite harsh. Many plants are looking weary, and even blossoms that look intriguing from a distance often look a bit tattered and worn when viewed up close. Some people are even opting to not tend to their gardens at all because of the drought. At times, I am tempted to daydream about the fecundity of spring.
Lately, I have been thinking a lot about seasons. While we will surely hot days in September and October, we are definitely in late summer. The darkness lingers a little longer each morning, but the mid-day light can be quite harsh. Many plants are looking weary, and even blossoms that look intriguing from a distance often look a bit tattered and worn when viewed up close. Some people are even opting to not tend to their gardens at all because of the drought. At times, I am tempted to daydream about the fecundity of spring.
Therefore, this morning as I returned from a very slow walk with Ms. Cleo, the elder dog, I was thinking that I surely must have photographed every flowering plant in the neighborhood, and some more than once. That there was simply nothing new to be seen here. And then, just a couple of doors from my home, this dahlia came into my view. I laughed. There is an Auntie Mame boldness to it that I needed very much to experience. I was in danger of starving at the banquet table.
Nature will always have the next to the last word. Despite our advances in medicine, health care and just about every other field, these lives of ours are temporal, and that is true for all seven plus billion of us. These bodies simply will not last forever even if we do replace some failing parts. Therefore, we would be wise to live fully into the season we are in. The flowers I photographed this morning will soon be gone. The weather will have its way with us.
Yet, every time I think I have seen in all there is to see in this small territory in which I reside, something amazing shows up. I think I know why. It is because the last word always belongs to God. We can find great comfort and strength in this knowledge, but there is, of course, is a warning as well. We can domesticate dogs, cats, and even a wild lily. But not God. God is not predictable and cannot be tamed. For that, I am deeply grateful as I take my place at the table.
Let us be wise today and give thanks for what is in front of us. Tomorrow is not ours, and may never be. Best accept the gift of today and live.
Ten thousand flowers in spring,
the moon in autumn,
a cool breeze in summer,
snow in winter.
If your mind isn't clouded by
unnecessary things,
this is the best season of your life.
Wu-Men
from Life Prayers, Elizabeth Roberts and Elias Amidon
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